The Riley County Health Department reported 199 new positive cases of COVID-19 on Dec. 30, bringing the local total to 4,917. Wednesday’s addition of new cases is the largest spike documented in over a month. There are 353 active cases in the county.
In all, 4,544 people have recovered from COVID-19 in Riley County.
On Dec. 23, the health department reported the 20th death in Riley County. The patient was an 88-year-old man who passed away at Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan. In December alone, five new COVID-19 deaths were counted.
Ascension Via Christi has 16 COVID-19 positive patients in its care at this time, four of whom are in intensive care.
The Riley County Health Department started administering COVID-19 vaccines to frontline healthcare providers. More are expected soon.
“These vaccines are being given to healthcare providers, EMS staff, first responders, some health department staff, and a few critical infrastructure staff who are most at risk for catching or spreading the virus, or are essential for the safety of the community,” local health officer Julie Gibbs said in a press release.
For the week of Dec. 20, the local positivity rate was 11.4 percent.
